Why did Eisenhower send the National Guard to Little Rock?
Eisenhower sent the National Guard to Little Rock in 1957 to enforce the desegregation of Central High School, which had been ordered by the Supreme Court in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case in 1954. Governor Orval Faubus had refused to comply with the court's ruling and ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine African American students from entering the school. In response, Eisenhower federalized the National Guard and sent in troops to protect the students and ensure their safety. This event became known as the Little Rock Crisis.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower deployed the National Guard to Little Rock, Arkansas in September 1957 to enforce the desegregation of Central High School. The decision was made in response to the refusal of Arkansas Governor Orval Faubus to comply with a federal court order to integrate the school. The Governor had deployed the Arkansas National Guard to prevent nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, from entering the previously all-white high school. Eisenhower's decision to send federal troops was a demonstration of the federal government's commitment to upholding the rule of law and promoting civil rights. The presence of the National Guard ensured the protection and safety of the students, allowing them to attend the integrated school.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower made the decision to send the National Guard to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1957 due to the crisis surrounding the integration of Central High School. This decision was made as a response to the resistance and violence faced by the African American students who were trying to attend the previously all-white high school.
To understand the reasons behind Eisenhower's action, it's important to recognize the context of the situation. In 1954, the Supreme Court's ruling in Brown v. Board of Education declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional. However, many states, including Arkansas, resisted desegregation efforts. In September 1957, nine African American students, known as the Little Rock Nine, were selected to enroll in Central High School.
When these black students attempted to attend the high school, they were met with intense opposition and hostility from white segregationist groups and even some white citizens. Governor Orval Faubus of Arkansas ordered the Arkansas National Guard to prevent the students from entering the school, using the pretext of maintaining peace and order.
Eisenhower's response came in the form of a federal intervention. He was committed to upholding the law and protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens. Eisenhower invoked the Insurrection Act of 1807, which gave the president the power to deploy federal troops to uphold federal law and order. Initially, he deployed the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army to Little Rock to ensure the safe entry of the African American students into the school.
Eisenhower's decision to send the National Guard was motivated by several factors. Firstly, he believed in the importance of upholding the Supreme Court's decision and combating racial segregation. Secondly, he felt it was crucial to demonstrate federal authority and prevent the defiance of federal laws by individual states. Finally, Eisenhower aimed to protect the lives and rights of the black students attending Central High School, as they were facing physical threats and violence.
In summary, President Eisenhower sent the National Guard to Little Rock in response to the resistance faced by the African American students trying to integrate Central High School. He wanted to enforce the Supreme Court's ruling on desegregation, ensure the constitutional rights of the students, and demonstrate federal authority in the face of defiant state actions.